Science in the Classroom is a collection of annotated research papers and accompanying teaching materials designed to help students understand the structure and workings of professional scientific research.

NASA GLOBE Observer App

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international science and education program that provides you with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process.

This program asks you to make environmental observations to complement NASA satellite observations to help scientists studying Earth and the global environment. The app includes Clouds, which allows you to photograph clouds and record sky observations and compare them with NASA satellite images.

It also include Mosquito Habitat Mapper, which asks you to identify potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, sample and count mosquito larvae, and with optional equipment, examine and photograph a specimen to identify its genus.

Just in time for the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, GLOBE Observer will unlock the Total Eclipse: Temperature and Clouds part of the app on August 18. This new feature will allow you to measure air and surface temperature during the eclipse to help scientists gauge what happens when the sun's light is blocked even temporarily. Included with this feature is information for safely making observations during the eclipse as well as information for how to report your observations. You can learn more about this feature when you get the app.

You can become more deeply involved with GLOBE by attending online training sessions to learn data collection techniques.

Going Further

Depending on your needs, you can use this app with your students to engage them in doing citizen science activities. The Clouds section of the app allows them to make sky observations and take pictures that can be compared with NASA satellite images to help scientists understand the sky from above and below. The Mosquito Habitat Tracker helps students map, count, and identify mosquito larvae found in breeding sites.

The new Total Eclipse part of the app will launch in time for the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse. You can plan to use this app with your students during the eclipse to enrich their experience.

The app has a companion website that provides some training for using the app, information about the data that has been collected, and science connections that right now focuses on clouds. There is also a teacher's guide that includes protocols and background information. There is also a section of the site dedicated to eclipse learning activities and demos.